Let me tell you about Joana & Simon’s Ghillie Dhu wedding in Edinburgh – one of those days that reminds me exactly why I love being a Scottish wedding photographer (and why I don’t mind my step count going through the roof).
The day kicked off at the Murrayfield Hotel, and straight away it felt relaxed, warm and full of good vibes. Joana and Simon decided to get ready together, which I absolutely love – do your wedding day your own way.
Joana was surrounded by her family and her two close friends, with her sister doing her makeup (cue a few emotional moments already and we’re not even at the ceremony yet). Her dress was something else – genuinely unusual, in the best way – with beautiful embroidered flowers that caught the light perfectly. A proper wow dress, the kind you remember.
We jumped in taxis and headed through the city to Ghillie Dhu, one of my favourite Edinburgh wedding venues. It is an old converted church at the west end of Princes Street with gothic features that look gorgeous in photographs. Their ceremony took place outdoors in the gardens at Rutland Square, which is a wee hidden gem right in the city a stone's throw from the Ghillie Dhu. The weather was perfect, warm with enough cloud cover to avoid squinting in photos!
They had a humanist ceremony, with lovely readings and some brilliant Scottish traditions woven in – including tying the knot (quite literally) and sharing their first drink with their mums. I don’t care how hard you are, that one gets you right in the feelings. Everything ran beautifully. Laughter, happy tears, and that feeling where you just know everyone’s buzzing to celebrate.
After the ceremony, we tried something a bit different: an outdoor photo dash. One song, many groups!
Guests ran in by friend groups or families, we grabbed a photo, and they bolted. Rinse and repeat. Despite the language barriers and my enthusiastic Scottish shouting of instructions, everyone understood the assignment and nailed it. Honestly, some of my favourite group photos ever. The best part? Guests were at the bar within five minutes, not hanging about for an hour wondering if they would die of dehydration. I highly recommend this for any wedding – your guests will love you forever.
Once the madness settled, we took some relaxed couple photos in Rutland gardens, then wandered a few minutes down to Princes Street Gardens. And we got the beautiful photo above. The fountain. Edinburgh Castle. Iconic. Joana & Simon absolutely smashed it. Natural, romantic, no awkward posing, just the two of them soaking it all in while the city buzzed around us.
Back inside Ghillie Dhu, Joana and Simon joined their guests for drinks while I took a step back and captured loads of natural, candid moments – hugs, laughter, clinking glasses, the good stuff. The venue decor was lovely, they had a floral theme which worked so well with the dark features of the Ghillie Dhu.
The speeches came before dinner and they were an were hilarious, heartfelt and multilingual... which pretty much sums this wedding up perfectly! There were laughs, a few tears, and plenty of love flying about the room.
After dinner, the band kicked off and the couple launched into an impressive dance routine that had everyone cheering. From there, it was full-on party mode – dancing, smiles, and pure joy right to the end.
As a Scottish wedding photographer based in Dundee, I get to travel to some beautiful Scottish venues, and days like this are exactly why I love photographing Edinburgh weddings so much. Joana & Simon brought together cultures, families and friends in a way that felt effortless, joyful and completely them. If you’re planning a Ghillie Dhu wedding, an Edinburgh city celebration, or you just fancy photos that feel real, relaxed and full of life – I’m your woman.
Joana & Simon, you absolute legends – thanks for trusting me with your day.
"Karen was absolutely amazing!! We had a chat a month before about any poses or specific pictures we wanted and even tried on the day the "photo dash" trend on the day and it resulted in amazing pics!! She blended in during the day and I didn't even notice her. I have so many amazing pictures of the day and I'm so grateful for her creative mind and stunning skills!" - Joana + Simon Google 5* Review